Spain/Aragon: Albarracin
Albarracin is absolutely surreal! It is considered by many to be the most beautiful town in Spain and it’s easy to see why – located high up in he mountains at 4000ft – the town is literally vertical, clinging to steep mountain sides and every street is probably a 40%, grade if not more. From the 7th century until the 12th, Albarracin was first part of the Moorish empire and then an independent Islamic kingdom aka Taifa – and the architecture of buildings with balconies overhanging and covering the sky is supportive of this history. What’s more, a defensive wall goes for many kilometers on top the ridges above the city making it practically impenetrable. Climbing up the city streets and even further uphill to the wall was like traveling back in time – nothing in this town has changed over centuries. And the views were stunning in every possible direction. How is this not on a UNESCO list?
